COLLIE RIVER VALLEY
BULLETIN Published by LOCALS for LOCALS
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Solar town EDITION No. 86
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Thursday, June 9, 2022
Bank strikes first spike for radio
Collie’s uptake above WA’s state average THE uptake of rooftop solar in Collie has exceeded the State average. Some 1500 homes and businesses in Collie have rooftop solar panels. Synergy’s manager of service design and planning, Kelley Yeats, said the Collie uptake of just over 40 percent compared with a WA uptake of just over one-inthree homes (33 percent). “Collectively these homes generate more energy than Synergy’s 854 megawatt Muja Power Station, the state’s largest power station,” Ms Yeats said. The uptake in rooftop solar generation has meant an increase in electricity flowing into the network which has reduced demand from traditional power stations. It has presented a challenge to network system stability, known colloquially as the “duck curve”. “This occurs particularly on sunny days, when rooftop
solar output is high, but energy demand is low.” Ms Yeats said innovative energy solutions are being developed to embrace the increase in renewable energy. This includes a virtual power plant (VPP) being trialled over 500 residences, schools and businesses in WA. The aim of the VPP is to smooth out the duck curve and stabilise the network. “A VPP is a network of distributed energy resources (DER) such as rooftop solar to generate and store renewable energy at a local level and provide the same services as a traditional power plant,” Ms Yeats said. The State Government’s flagship DER pilot program, Project Symphony, is being delivered in partnership with Western Power, the Australian Energy Market Operator and Energy Policy WA, testing co-ordinated DER integration in Perth’s Southern River region.
Community Bank Collie directors Ian Miffling, John Piavanini and Ken Smallwood were on site to lend a hand to Collie Community Radio project manager Mark Sanders sizing up the site for the new radio station. See story on page 7.
Colourful plants for main street
THE garden beds surrounding the swimming pool have undergone a transformation from lawn and weeds to native ground cover. Page 3
Tipping comp is neck and neck
LITTLE Blue Door owner, Christy Davidson, and LJ Mechanical’s Rusti Pitchers, are joint leaders in the Bulletin’s football tipping competition. Page 6
Personal and Professional Services award winners We were proud to accept the award for Collie's best personal and professional services at the 2022 Collie Small Business Awards. And when you belong to one of Australia’s biggest banks, good things happen with your banking too.
Feel good about who you bank with. Find out more. Call 9734 7411 or search Bendigo Bank Collie.
Community Bank Collie Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178, AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 237879 A1389134, OUT_19906504, 30/05/2022